http://cdn2.thelineofbestfit.com/images/2009/01/thecryinglight.jpg1 Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light(2009)The black-and-white image of legendary Butoh dancer Kazuo Ohno that adorns the cover of The Crying Light, the third full-length by Antony and the Johnsons, seems to offer a view of a being enveloped in both ecstasy and agony -- or does it? The songs contained here offer something else: a glimpse of a universe beyond the pale of vision, seen only by the individual experiencing it. Neo-classical underpinnings are entwined lovingly with broken pop songs and secretive after-hours cabaret poems. Check the opener, "Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground". The piano and cello fall together as one slow dancer, alone in the spotlight, keeping memory as time: "In the garden, with my mother/I stole a flower/With my mother, in her power/I chose a flower/I saw six eyes glistening in my womb/I felt you calling me in the gloom/Rest assured your love is pure.... …

In a journal article called Development of my Taste in Music, I am giving a long, meandering autobiographical account of how my taste in music developed. Here I'm going to just highlight the main albums that shaped my tastes, or where I'm not sure what the exact album was, are representative of the direction my taste was taking. To the best of my ability, I will list albums in the order that I first listened to them. For some classical music, I will list a different recording, because the original vinyl is not available on Last.fm, or I just don't remember what it was. This is a work in progress, and gaps may be filled in as time goes on. It is fairly lengthy, but if you're short on time, you can just look over the album covers.

As a child, the first kind of music I liked was classical music. For me, music was something to have a direct experience with. Classical music spoke directly to me. It wasn't about the lyrics but about the music. It was kind of a direct communion. The main kind of classical music I initially liked was ballet music. I was into the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg, The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky and The Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. (These are not links to the recordings I actually listened to. This early on, I did not pay attention to this sort of thing.)

The popular forms of music I heard didn't have the same effect on me. When I heard popular music blaring on the school bus, it was more of an audible assault than a communion. At times, I had to sing hymns, carols, old American songs, and current popular songs, and I found it all boring and unappealing. Privately, I could enjoy good music from the core of my being, but in social settings, the music other people performed or listened to usually didn't appeal to me. …

The sidebar in my profile gives a brief synopsis of my taste in music, but it doesn't explain anything in detail. First, I usually listen to music to accompany other activities rather than setting aside periods of time to just listen to music. So, one of the most important factors affecting what I listen to is what I'm doing. I commonly listen to music while writing, reading, working, and exercising. For reading, I like to listen to music that helps me focus. For focusing, I often prefer instrumental music, though music with lyrics is fine as long as my attention isn't drawn to them too much. A steady rhythm, such as found in rock or fusion, often helps me focus, but when I'm already focused and just need to avoid distractions, ambient music can be best. For writing, working, and exercising, I often enjoy something that helps me move. In general, much of the music I listen to has to be good for focusing and moving. Other factors that are important to me are intellectual interest, emotional appeal…

Yet Another list. I like looking through people's music collection so I thought I'd share what mine looks like. I've been collecting vinyl for about a year and I think I have a pretty decent collection so far.

Edit 10/18/2011 : Added two Pearl Jam, Mrs. Miller, David Gilmour, Doobie Brothers and Jefferson AirplaneEdit 4/6/2012: Added Siouxsie and the Banshees Nocturne and A kiss in the Dreamhouse, Allman Brothers Fillmore, Joan Jett's Bad Reputation and Canned Heat Cookbook (Best of). There were quite a few other ones I had to pass up namely Fleetwood Mac's Then Play On and Skull & Roses from the Grateful Dead. Maybe next time...Edit 7/5/2012: Picked up Cream, The Beatles, Buffalo Springfield, Jimi Hendrix and The Go-Go's this time. Must have hit the store right after a collection came in. Didn't expect to find that much but walked away with some definite classics. Buffalo Springfield skips a little bit but not that bad for an older record and the others are in really great shape. …